PINACEiE 269 



Keteleeria Davidiana, Beissner. 



Keteleeria sacra, Beissner ; Abies Davidiana, Franchet. 



A tree 100 ft. high and 16 ft. in girth in China, resembUng a 

 silver fir when young but eventually assuming an irregular habit 

 with massive branches and large, buttress-like roots spreading 

 from the base of the bole. Bark grey on the outside, shed in small 

 plates, reddish within. Buds rounded at the apex with numer- 

 ous keeled scales, becoming reddish and conspicuous in spring. 

 Young shoots slender, densely covered with short, stiff, brown 

 hairs, many of which remain until the end of the second year. 

 Leaves on young plants linear, flat, stiff, dark shining green, up 

 to 2^ in. long, }-}. in. broad, ending in a long sharp point. Leaves 

 on adult trees ^-ll in. long, prominently keeled on both surfaces, 

 entire and rounded at the apex. Cones erect, 3-8 in. long, l|-2 in. 

 wide, cylindrical, reddish when young, pale brown when mature, 

 on stout stalks 1-1 1 in. long ; scales about 1 in. long and f-1 in. 

 wide, widest immediately above the claw-like stalls, narrowing 

 to the rounded and slightly reflexed apex ; bracts half as long 

 as the scales, about | in. wide with a three-pointed apex. Seeds 

 up to I in. long with a wing |-| in. long, or the same length as 

 the scales, appearing longer when the scales expand, bright 

 glossy brown. 



Native of China, where it is widely distributed in the central, 

 western, and south-western provinces, occasionally forming woods 

 where the cUmate is dry. It is also found in Formosa. K. Evel- 

 yana. Masters, K. Esquirolii, Leveille, and K. formosana, Hayata, 

 appear to be variants of K. Davidiana, and according to Wilson 

 are doubtfully distinct. 



K. Davidiana was discovered by Pere David in 1869 and seeds 

 were sent to Kew by Henry in 1888. It is occasionally met with 

 in collections, and a healthy plant about 4 ft. high may be seen 

 near the Pagoda at Kew. It is growing in sandy loam to which 

 a little peat has been added. The tips of the shoots are sometimes 

 injured by early autumn frosts. 



Wilson, PI. Wils. ii, 39 (1914) ; Clinton-Baker, Illust. Conif. i, 72 (1909) ; 

 Elwes and Heiu-y, Trees oj Great Brit, and Ireland, vi, 1475 (1912). 



Keteleeria Fortune!, Carriere. 



Abies Fortunei, Murray ; Abietia Fortnnei, Kent. 

 A tree 80 ft. high in China, with corky bark and the habit of 

 a Lebanon cedar. Branches horizontal and spreading. Branchlets 

 orange-red, young shoots slender, with scattered hairs. Buds 

 ovoid, rounded at the apex, with numerous keeled scales. Leaves 

 of young trees linear, stiff, 1-1 1 in. long, with spiny tips. Leaves 

 of mature trees |-lj in. long, rounded or shortly pointed at the 

 apex. Cones cylindrical, 4-7 in. long, 1^2 in, wide (or 3 in. wide 



